Mpox: there is still risk of global outbreak

Mpox is an emerging zoonosis that was first described in African animals, including monkeys, small rodents, and Gambian marsupial rats. It has since been identified as a sexually transmitted infection among humans. The disease is characterized by an incubation period ranging from 5 to 21 days, with the prodromal phase typically presenting nonspecific symptoms. The incubation period is followed by the development of the characteristic vesicular skin lesions that are the hallmarks of Mpox. Over the years, small outbreaks of Mpox have occurred regularly in Central and West Africa. In July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), due to the rapid spread of the virus in non-endemic countries. On May 11, 2023, WHO declared the end of the Mpox emergency, considering a significant decline in reported cases. As of October 2024, the true impact of this infection on international public health remains unclear.